Spiritual New Year’s Resolutions

With the coming of a new year comes those New Year’s resolutions all try to achieve. Many are made only soon to be broken. This time of year does serve a good purpose of considering some spiritual resolutions which would be good for all of us to make and keep.

No Longer To Linger

There is a song we all have sung many times called, “I am Resolved” and contained within its lyrics are some good resolutions for each of us to ascribe to achieve in the coming year. If you are a sinner, it is a good time to be resolved to become one. Stop wasting time, stop procrastinating, and do it this year for sure! Don’t be charmed by this world’s delight. Be aware there are things nobler. As Ananias said to Saul of Tarsus, “Why do you tarry? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16).

Go To The Savior

Each of us would do ourselves a great service to go to the Lord in the coming year. Why? Only Jesus “has the words to eternal life” (Jn 6:68). Eternal life is obtained by our obedience to the gospel of Christ (Mk 16:16). Once one has become a confessed believer who has repented of their sins and had them washed away by the means of baptism, they are added to the Lord’s church (Acts 2:47). Jesus, who is the head of the church is also the Savior of the body, the church (Col 1:18 f; Eph 5:23).

To Follow Jesus

The scriptures instruct us to follow in the steps of the Savior. The apostles followed Jesus and they instructed us to follow them even as they followed Christ (1 Cor 4:16 cf; 11:1). Peter said in 1 Peter 2:21, “For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps.”

To Enter The Kingdom

There is no greater achievement one can attain than being a citizen of heaven. The Kingdom is often referred to the Lord’s church (Matt 16:18). We can only enter into the Kingdom by being born of the water and the Spirit (Jn 3:3-5). This is accomplished when one is baptized into Christ (Gal 3:27).

To Be More Faithful

Way too many of the Lord’s church has chosen not to be faithful members of the Lord’s church. They must have bought into the false doctrine of “Once saved, always saved”. If it is our expectation to hear the Lord say come the day of judgment, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant” (Matt 25:21) we must cease to forsake the assembly (Heb 10:25).

To Be An Exemplary Example

This world is in great need of someone who is worthy to be followed. Your friends and family need it, your neighbors need it, and every church member needs it. As Christians, we all must “Shine as lights of the world” (Matt 5:14-16). As Paul commanded a young Timothy, “. . . Be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity” (1 Tim 4:12).

To Study More

Most every Christian hears the word of God preached each week, but how many of them actually read and study the Word of God for themselves? Paul reminded Timothy to give attention to, “. . . reading, to exhortation, to doctrine” (1 Tim 4:13). In his second epistle, he commanded, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Tim 2:15).

To Teach More

Even if we have learned all that there is to learn concerning the Word of truth, it will all go to waste if we neglect the gift that is in us and refuse to teach the world. We must teach the word when it is popular to do so and when it is unpopular to do so. “Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables” (2 Tim 4:2-4).

Conclusion: There are many things we can seek to do more of in the coming year. Let us be more forgiving, more charitable, and more compassionate. If we haven’t obeyed the gospel, do it now. If we haven’t been faithful, let us repent now. If we haven’t been attentive to reading and studying the Word of God, let us get to it. If we haven’t been preaching, teaching, defending, proving, and contending for the faith, let his year be the year we do. Above all things, never wait on a New Year to begin serving the Lord. Any day is a good day to strive to do better in Christ Jesus.